2023 Annual Report I CITY OF CHILLIWACK CITY OF CHILLIWACK I 2023 Annual Report 36 37 STRATEGIC GOAL #9 CONTINUED: COMMUNITY SAFETY Offer a wide range of services to support safety and sense of belonging in the community. Support RCMP initiatives and improvements in traffic safety. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2023 TRAFFIC EDUCATION Support road safety initiatives, working with RCMP and ICBC. Continued Safe Roads initiatives that provided motorists, pedestrians and cyclists with road safety knowledge to reduce crash statistics. Hosted the annual Chilliwack Safety Fair, sharing safety tips from community partners with hundreds of community members. Digital pedestrian safety education tools assist all road users in learning about crosswalks, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon crosswalks, and school crossing guards. A dedicated rail safety web page and regular advertising providing tips and reminders for all road users on safe rail crossing choices. ADDRESS SOCIAL ISSUES Support improved inter-agency coordination and address homelessness. Continued work with the Community Safety Governance Committee to implement the Chilliwack Community Safety Plan. Continued supporting programs to address homelessness, including the establishment of a Wellness Centre (opened in January) offering one-stop health and wellness services, overdose prevention services, and additional supports for outreach. Received additional grant funding through Reaching Home, supporting projects operated by the following organizations to prevent and reduce homelessness: • Cyrus Centre – Indigenous Youth and Youth Outreach. • Salvation Army Homelessness Prevention and Diversion. • Pacific Community Resources Society Housing Hub, Housing and Indigenous Housing Support Facilitators (2); Community Integration and Coordination (Outreach, Situation Table). • Wilma’s Transition Society Homelessness Prevention and Diversion. • Pacific Community Resources Society – Wellness Centre. STRATEGIC GOAL #9 CONTINUED: COMMUNITY SAFETY Offer a wide range of services to support safety and sense of belonging in the community. Support RCMP initiatives and improvements in traffic safety. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2023 SAFE PUBLIC SPACES Improve the safety of parks and public spaces. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles applied in park and public space upgrades. Continued mobile security patrols: four patrol vehicles worked overnight, and one additional two guard patrol in the downtown and Business Improvement Association area. Night patrols ensured any temporary shelters in parks were removed at the prescribed time. High visibility patrols with RCMP, Bylaw and security conducted throughout the downtown core and various commercial areas. RCMP SUPPORT Support RCMP activities and initiatives and maintain an adequate number of police officers. Health and Safety Inspection Team shut down one controlled substance/marijuana grow operation and conducted 12 health and safety inspections. City staff worked cooperatively with RCMP on trouble buildings and hotspots. Funded three additional members, one support municipal employee and have funded 41 members over the past nine years. Maintained a population to member ratio of under 800. Completed conversion of the former Operations building into additional space for the RCMP Detachment, to better serve the needs of public and staff. BYLAW ENFORCEMENT Provide enhanced bylaw enforcement. Eight full-time Bylaw Officers provided year-round support including evening and weekend coverage. Added two uniformed Assistant Managers to assist with dayto-day bylaw enforcement activities. Four Bylaw Officers completed bicycle training in order to assist with proactive bicycle patrols in the downtown, parks and trails and other hotspot areas. Two electric bicycles were added to the bicycle fleet to facilitate expanded and more efficient patrols. On average, Bylaw Officers had over 1,000 interactions with members of the public each month.
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